Just World Books

The War and Environment
Reader

“Human intelligence, in its unique glory, has contrived two mechanisms to destroy us and much else: nuclear weapons and environmental catastrophe, closely linked. It has yet to contrive the cure for the lethal malady, a task that must be undertaken without delay. The essays collected here explore the depths and imminence of the crises, and outline directions that must be pursued, and urgently.”Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics emeritus

The War and Environment Reader

The War and Environment Reader explores the historical, political and psychological roots of war, the business of war, the environmental and social consequences of war, and the alternatives to war. While many books have examined the broader topic of military conflict, most neglect to focus on damage military violence inflicts on regional—and global—ecosystems.

The War and Environment Reader, edited by Gar Smith, provides a critical analysis of the devastating consequences of “war on the environment” with perspectives drawn from a wide array of diverse voices and global perspectives.

“Human intelligence, in its unique glory, has contrived two mechanisms to destroy us and much else: nuclear weapons and environmental catastrophe, closely linked. It has yet to contrive the cure for the lethal malady, a task that must be undertaken without delay. The essays collected here explore the depths and imminence of the crises, and outline directions that must be pursued, and urgently.”NOAM CHOMSKYInstitute Professor & Professor of Linguistics emeritus, MIT

“We don’t really know the true horrors of war —the deep psychological, physical, economical, and environmental damages and scars that result from one group’s actions to prepare and wage violence against someone else. This Reader offers the most diverse set of voices ever collected together to try to describe those horrors, including essays written over many years about the often-unseen consequences of our actions. Read these stories in the hopes that future ones need never be written.”PETER GLEICKenvironmental scientist, communicator

“The War and Environment Reader is packed with powerful writings, from classics by Margaret Mead to recent investigations of drone strikes, about why war happens, how it affects us, and how we can stop it. Everyone who cares about humanity’s most urgent problem—in other words, everyone—should read this book.”JOHN HORGANscience journalist and author, The End of War

“Anyone who studies environmentalism learns about climate change, biodiversity loss, and hazardous chemical pollution; but too often a major environmental threat is overlooked: war. Both caused by, and contributing to, environmental harm, war undermines our chance to live sustainably on this beautiful planet. Gar Smith’s War and Environment Reader is a gift to our movement; it is a powerful collection of voices exploring war from many perspectives, and calling for a green and peaceful way forward. Please read this book and join the call!”ANNIE LEONARDExecutive Director, Greenpeace US; author The Story of Stuff

“Even if war were moral, legal, defensive, beneficial to the spread of freedom, and inexpensive, we would be obliged to make abolishing it our top priority solely because of the case laid out so powerfully in this book: war is destroying this planet.”DAVID SWANSONDirector, World Beyond War; author, War Is a Lie

“This anthology is a much-needed volume of essays on the negative impact that the militarization of our world has on our planet—on the humans, animals, plants, oceans, lands, and air. The question is sometimes asked: ‘what is war good for?’ And the answer from millions of people is: ‘Absolutely nothing!'”ANN WRIGHTformer colonel, U.S. Army; former diplomat; antiwar activist

The War and Environment
Reader is available in Paperback ($24.95) and ebook formats ($22.95)